Gallery: This brew crew keeps trainloads of beer from freezing

Mr. Diamond, a Union Pacific Railroad conductor, waits for a passenger car to arrive at the Proviso Yard in west suburban Northlake. Beer freezes at around 13 degrees, and it's his responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen to carloads of Corona, Modelo Especial, Pacifico and Victoria. Click here to read more on how he does it.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Bill Diamond goes through his job briefing before his overnight shift at the UP's Proviso Yard in west suburban Northlake.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond waits for a passenger car to arrive at the beginning of his overnight shift at the Union Pacific Railroad’s Proviso Yard on Jan. 21. He makes sure the beer stored on the cars doesn't freeze and is delivered to its proper receiving facility.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond swaps his regular shoes for steel-toe work boots. When his overnight shift begins, it’s 10 degrees outside and the temperature is dropping fast.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond waits for his shift to begin. In the cold weather, he regularly pressures the yard master to move beer cars that might not be on the schedule.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond suits up with several layers of clothes and his remote-control operator's belt, which commands the locomotive.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond heads for the warehouse with 16 cars filled with beer. Operated by Grand Worldwide Logistics Corp. of Chicago, the "beer house" is one of the largest distribution centers for Chicago-based Crown Imports LLC, Modelo's U.S. importer, marketer and brand owner. It serves 107 wholesalers throughout the Midwest and holds more than 1 million cases of beer at any given time.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond moves the caboose of the train using his remote-control operator’s belt. The manual work involved in coupling and uncoupling cars and switching track may seem tedious, but it's all in the beer's favor. More jostling means more movement, which means more slush and fewer frozen-solid beverages.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

Mr. Diamond inspects railcars at the warehouse delivery dock. In the months leading up to Cinco de Mayo, it's not uncommon to have 80 cars of beer in the yard at once. In his 12 years dealing with beer, he's learned that cans freeze faster than bottles and bottles don't always shatter when the contents freeze.

PHOTO CREDIT: Manuel Martinez

UP Railroad conductor Bill Diamond clears empty rail cars to make way for those filled with beer. When his 16 cars finally roll into the beer house, it is 1 degree outside. Read more about his job here.

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